Sunday Ejike | Abuja
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, renowned Silk, Chief Wole Olanipekun bowed out as the 50th chairman of Body of Benchers (BoB), to accolades from members of the legal profession and eminent personalities for the achievements recorded during his headship of the highest body of lawyers in the country.
To celebrate the Ekiti high Chief for a meritorious service, the BoB organised a glamorous dinner in his honour at its headquarters in Abuja, where the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola described him as an inter-generational force of positive change.
Chief Olanipekun’s journey to the pinnacle of BoB began in 1992 when he became a member. He became a Life Bencher in 2007, was appointed the pioneer Chairman of the Monitoring Committee of the Body and later, the Vice Chairman/Chairman (Screening Committee) of the body before assuming the Chairmanship position on March 31, 2022.
Speakers at the well-attended event said Olanipekun’s tenure (from March 31, 2022 to March 30, 2023) was an eventful and a memorable one.
Eminent personalities who spoke at the event include the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola; Olanipekun’s successor, Justice Mary Peter Odili (retired Justice of the Supreme Court); Dele Adesina (SAN); Ekiti State Governor, Abiodun Oyebanji; Ben Anichebe (SAN); and the Secretary of the Body of Benchers, Daniel Tela.
Anthony Malik (SAN), who began his journey at Olanipekun’s law firm, read the summarised eleven page profile contained in the brochure of the event.
The profile touched on Olanipekun’s foray into legal practice, his days as student union leader, Bar leader as well as his many philanthropic gestures – (scholarships, monetary contributions, execution of projects, development of facilities, with the most recent being the now befitting structure housing the Ikere division of the High Court of Ekiti State, among others.
The CJN, in his speech, spoke about Olanipekun’s contributions to the BoB, his capacity to positively impact any community where he finds himself, among other qualities.
Justice Ariwoola said it was impossible for anyone to doubt the sterling contributions of Olanipekun to the development of the Legal profession in the country and beyond.
He said, it was during Olanipekun’s tenure as the chairman of the Body of Benchers that the magnificent edifice, now housing the BoB in Abuja was inaugurated on September 29, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the CJN, “great men, like Chief Olanipekun, naturally have their tentacles spread across the path of unimaginable generations of beneficiaries of his magnanimous disposition.”
He urged all to be mindful of the fact that there is a tide in the affairs of men, and that, “the works of our hands shall always rise stoutly in testimony on our behalf when we are gone.’
Justice Ariwoola noted that Olanipekun has been bestriding the nation’s legal landscape, “with iconic academic discernment for over four decades now. He is one lawyer that has latched on our memory, an enviable degree of intellectual eminence and legal finesse that encompass all spheres of philosophy and methodical reasoning.
“He is a very unique and nationalistic Nigerian, with a radical posture of justice and rule of law. I have always said that, even though he has a fragile posture, as he looks much younger than his age, that makes him look simple and unassuming.
“He is very strict and consciously principled in disposition. Even though he is highly elitist and dignified in carriage, he still relates exceptionally well with the down trodden, as his entire life is totally devoid of duplicity, undue arrogance and elitism. Those who know Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN very well, will harbour no doubt, of his expansive landscape of courage that does not hurt or intimidate others.
“He has always exhibited scholarship and legal candour. His oratory prowess is like an ocean wave that moves with vigour and vibrancy. His legal presentations have covered a gamut of issues that have offered us sufficient food for thought, not just as judicial officers and lawyers, but as citizens of the global community.
“He is, by all standards, a rare gem and an unblemished specimen of trust and integrity. Chief Wole Olanipekun has been treading gallantly of the path exclusively preserved for people of honour.
“He has worked assiduously to etch his name in gold as a minister in the temple of justice. And, he has proved that most things that certain people do exceptionally well are the proof of their ability to identify their talents,” Justice Ariwoola said at the occasion.
Justice Odili, who took over the mantle of leadership of the Body from Olanipekun, testified to the fact that Chief Olanipekun discharged his duties without blemish while he headed the BoB, and promised to build on his achievements.
Governor Oyebanji of Ekiti state, in his remarks, described Olanipekun as a great philanthropist, an inspiration and a pride to Ekiti State.
“As a proud son of Ekiti State, Chief Olanipekun has brought honour and recognition to our state through his work in the legal profession. His dedication to the pursuit of justice and fairness has made a significant impact on the development of our legal system. May God Almighty continue to bless and keep Chief Olanipekun,” Oyebanji said.
Olanipekun, in his speech thanked God for a successful tenure, saying that, “by His infinite mercy, grace and benevolence, as the 50th Chairman of the Body of Benchers, we have ended well. We have just ended well, we are handing over well. Do you know who I am handing over to? It is my friend’s wife,” he said of Justice Odili.
Olanipekun came down hard on the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for what he described as an attempt by the tail to wag the dog, stressing that it was impossible for the NBA to dictate to the Body of Benchers.
“NBA does not have the power to ask a sitting Chairman of the Body of Benchers to recuse himself under any circumstance. We know what we are here (at the BoB). We are orderly. We respect the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), but the NBA should also respect us. I have been the President of the NBA, and to the glory of God, I did well.
“I want to plead that henceforth, let strife stop in the legal profession. Let us see ourselves as brothers and sisters. And let us shake hands across the divides,” he said.
Olanipekun said he felt fulfilled for what God did through him for the Law profession during his time as the Chairman of the BoB, thanking members of the body for their unflinching support during his tenure, despite “waves and distractions,” which he said, are normal occurrences in every human’s life.
“I have seen it all. And, through the grace of God, we have been able to give our all, and by the grace of God, we have remained humble. We have pride, without being proud.
“What is life about? We all pray that we end well. I started well a year ago, as the Chairman, Body of Benchers, and I have ended well. I am at peace with myself and I pray that God will be at peace with me”, Olanipekun added.
The secretary of the Body, Daniel Tela, in his remarks, also applauded Olanipekun for his immense contribution to the development of the legal profession, even as he maintained that he enjoyed a cordial working relationship with Olanipekun throughout his tenure as chairman of the BoB.
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